By Eli Anderson
Watertown Daily Times
WATERTOWN — In honor of International Overdose Remembrance Day, more than 100 residents of the city and surrounding areas gathered Sunday under the Mayor Joseph M. Butler Pavilion in the J.B. Wise parking lot downtown to celebrate Community Recovery Action Day.
Some came to remember loved ones whose lives were taken by addiction; others came to rally for a solution to the city’s heroin epidemic.
All, however, were there because of a desire to build a better community.
The event, hosted by the Alliance for Better Communities, featured several speakers including local law enforcement officials, church leaders, politicians, recovering addicts and family members of addicts and victims.
“Today we take a few moments to continue our focus on drug addiction and abuse in our community,” Jefferson County District Attorney Cindy F. Intschert said, “to come together in our efforts to combat this scourge and to honor the memories of those we have lost to the ravages of drug addiction.”
Throughout the ceremony, representatives from local community organizations — Credo Community Center for the Treatment of Addictions, Samaritan Addiction Services, ACR Health, Pivot, Nar-Anon Family Groups and others — passed out helpful pamphlets and information.
Community members displayed signs that read, “No Shame,” “Help, Not Handcuffs” and “Get Narcan.”
Near the end of the event, a banner signed by all was raised along the edge of the pavilion’s roof to commemorate the several locals who have recently died as a result of addiction.
“It is a symbol of hope that those who have died over the years will not be forgotten and that their deaths are not in vain,” City Councilman Stephen A. Jennings said.
Many speakers praised the community for attending the event and showing support.
“This is such a fantastic example of a community coming together to meet a challenge and fight against the monster we call heroin,” Jefferson County Sheriff Colleen M. O’Neill said.
Ms. O’Neill also revealed that the Sheriff’s Department has officially joined the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, or PAARI, a national initiative to assist drug addicts and their families by responding with treatment rather than arrest.
“Our coalition is going to be successful because we are committed to getting our people with drug addiction help and putting our pushers in prison,” she said. “Heroin addiction is a disease, a medical condition that must be treated by doctors in medical environments, not by corrections officers in jails.”
“Having said that, there will always be room in our jail for the dealers who prey on our youth,” Ms. O’Neill said.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, also spoke, calling for the community to be understanding and nonjudgmental.
“So many of our friends and family members and neighbors in this area become addicted to legal drugs,” she said. “The problem of addiction can come because of a knee injury; it can come because of a difficult pregnancy; it can come because of a number of issues that have nothing to do with a person being a bad person.”
CRIES FOR HELP
For some, the event served as an opportunity to get help.
With many community leaders and resources all in one place, a handful of those in attendance Sunday took the floor to explain how heroin has affected their lives.
Joy Niles was one of those people. She took the microphone to tell the story of her 27-year-old son, Jake.
“Our son Jake is a heroin addict,” she said. “He uses over 30 bags a day. How he is still alive is a miracle.”
Ms. Niles explained the difficulties her family has faced in finding help for her son. She called on politicians and community leaders to bring a detoxification facility to Watertown.
“We have a problem here in Jefferson County,” she said. “My son and other people’s lives do matter. I do not know what else to do, and I’m asking for help.”
All in attendance Sunday heard Ms. Niles’s cries for help, including Assemblywoman Russell, who said she was glad Ms. Niles did not remain silent.
“She was in the perfect place to speak out,” Ms. Russell said. “I think she is going to get assistance for her son. We should have these types of events on a regular basis.”
Like Ms. Niles, several others spoke publicly about their struggles, including Cheryl L. Gray of Clayton.
Ms. Gray said her 27-year-old granddaughter recently died of a heroin overdose.
“Our family has suffered a great loss,” she said. “She was well known in the community and she reached out to everyone.”
Despite her loss, Ms. Gray said, Sunday’s event gave her hope.
“I encourage everyone, if you do have a loved one that is struggling, please reach out,” she said. “There’s help out there; there are resources.”
The Rev. Jeffrey E. Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church, also gave an inspirational account of his experience with heroin.
“I, too, was addicted to heroin for 30-something years,” he said, “so I am speaking to you from experience here. I have been clean and sober for 20 years now.”
“It takes all of us to deal with this epidemic,” the Rev. Mr. Smith said.
For more information about events hosted by the Alliance for Better Communities, visit http://wdt.me/ABC.